Killegar Church — Killegar

Situated on a very gentle SE-facing slope with good views to the E and S. A nave (int. dims. c. 12.5m x c. 5m) and possibly earlier chancel (min. int. dims. 6.5m x 4.3m) standing on a low subrectangular platform (L 27m; Wth 10m) at the N end of a modern rectangular graveyard. Only the chancel walls (H 2-2.4m; T 0.8m), of uncoursed granite blocks, survive. The line of the N nave wall (T 0.80m) can be traced to a point 10m W of the chancel and a single granite block may represent the W extremity. Against the S wall of the chancel are several cross-slabs; (WI003-028005-) a slab (H 1.14m) decorated with cup and ring marks and other ornamentation; (WI003-028006-) a slab (H 0.95m) with a Latin cross in shallow relief, circles at the top and arm ends, and semicircular curves in the space below the arms; (WI003-028007-) a small slab (H 0.49m) with a simple incised Latin cross. Also at this location is the head of a small Tau cross (WI003-028008-) (H 0.24m; T 0.15m; Wth across arms 0.49m) with a central boss on both faces (Harbison 1992, 128) and parts of the upper stones of two rotary querns. There is a granite cross-base (WI003-028001-) outside the S wall of the chancel (0.27m x 0.17m) but the head of another stone cross (WI003-028009-) formerly to the SW of the church (Ó Ríordáin 1947, 84) was removed to the National Museum of Ireland (Healy 2009, 97 (No.44)). Healy (2009, 84 (No. 21)) supplies a 1992 photograph of an erect slab with a central circular depression, girdled by a raised band with an apparently equal-armed cross above (WI003-028010-). A portion of the circular enclosure (diam. c. 50m) shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map survives to the W of the graveyard. A much larger enclosure (dims. 80m N-S; 100m E-W) is defined by a curving earth and stone bank (Wth 2.5m; H 1m) from S (along the S line of the modern graveyard) to W. At the N and E this feature has been destroyed by quarrying. (O'Flanagan 1928, 1-2; Ó Ríordáin 1947, pl. XVIII, 84-5; Ó hÉailidhe 1957, 75-8; Price 1957, 290). A recent site inspection carried out in 2019 recorded the presence of a significant number of oolithic limestone fragments, most likely Dundry that were not previously recorded. Only one fragment, representing a door jamb is a recognisable architectural fragment. The remainder are all extremely poor quality and very weathered so that they have no recognisable form. Presumably the church had a Dundry carved door frame, but it is presently impossible to determine if the remaining fragments belong to windows and/or chancel arch (pers. comm. Chris Corlett 29/11/2019). See attached photographs provided by Chris Corlett The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Claire Breen Revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Chris Corlett Date of revision: 09 December 2019